Autumn Getaway (Seasons of Love) by Jennifer Gracen Read Free Book Online Page B

she wasn’t going to add to it by becoming a stereotypical divorcee shrew. Positive thoughts , she chanted silently to herself, resolutely pushing Matt out of her mind as she stared up at the stars. Positive thoughts…
    “Sam was right, you are out here.” Melanie’s voice floated through the darkness, a few feet behind her.
    Lydia turned. “Yup, I am.”
    “It’s freezing out here, get inside!” Melanie commanded from the door.
    Lydia crossed the ten paces to her friend. “Your wish is my command, Bridey Girl.”
    Melanie ushered Lydia inside, closed the door behind them, and grasped Lydia’s free hand. “Ooh, your hand’s cold! We’re gonna start dinner, come sit with me.” She quickly scrutinized her friend’s face. “You okay?”
    “I’m fine,” Lydia assured her, giving Melanie’s hand a squeeze. “Just wanted some air. Come, starlet, I don’t want to keep you from your adoring public.”
    Melanie chuckled and pulled Lydia along with her. In the short time she’d been outdoors, Lydia could see that all the guests had seated themselves at the two long tables, filling almost every chair. There were two empty seats in the center of the second table, flanked on either side by Ryan and Melanie’s mother. Melanie greeted her fiancée with a quick kiss as she sat down next to him. She leaned in her mother’s direction and said, “I found her.”
    “So I see.” Pamela Dawson smiled as Lydia sat in the chair beside her. She reached over and squeezed Lydia’s hand. “Lydia, it's been so long! You look wonderful, dear. Really.”
    Lydia knew that Pamela’s added “really” meant not that she looked good for her appearance, but for the fact that she was a woman newly divorced. She smiled tightly. “Thanks.”
    “How long has it been since I saw you?” Pamela wondered aloud. “Maybe ten years?”
    “At least,” Lydia nodded. She looked at Melanie’s mother. She had aged well, was still an attractive woman, even with the tiny lines around her eyes and mouth. “You look fantastic, Pamela.”
    “You’re sweet to say that. How’s that gorgeous little boy of yours?” Pamela asked.
    “He’s doing well, thanks.”
    “How old is he now?”
    “Three and a half,” Lydia answered. She hated small talk. It felt tedious, it bored her, it felt like wasted breath. She liked Melanie’s mother well enough, but suddenly felt it would be a long night. She reached for her glass of wine again, and as she did, let her eyes sweep along the table. People were drinking, chatting, laughing. She was sitting on Melanie’s “side” of the table, with Melanie’s parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. On the other end of the long table were Ryan’s parents, and other relatives of his that she didn’t know. She saw Alec, his wife Paige, and their children, and Alec’s parents sitting next to Ryan’s parents. She figured they were the Forrester clan that Melanie had told her about.
    And then, her eyes met a pair of twinkling dark brown eyes that were already watching her. Sam sat on the other side of Paige, next to the kids, closer to them than Alec was. Once her eyes locked with his, the corner of his mouth turned up in an alluring half grin. To her surprise, she felt herself blush softly. She pressed her lips together, a self-conscious gesture, but couldn't hold back a return grin. Sam’s mouth widened into a full, radiant smile, and his stare intensified.
    “Do you have any pictures, Lydia?” Pamela’s voice said next to her.
    Jarred, Lydia turned back to her neighbor. “I’m sorry, what?”
    “Do you have any pictures of your son to show me?” Pamela asked.
    “Sure, hold on. Of course I do…” Lydia was very aware of Sam’s eyes on her from where he sat, could feel him staring as she dug through her small bag for her cell phone. Finding it, she turned it on and scrolled until she found the most recent and scrumptious picture she had. “Here’s Andy just last week, at the park.”
    Pamela took